MIAMI (AP) — Rookie Dakota Hudson allowed one run in a career-high seven innings, and the St. Louis Cardinals handed the Miami Marlins their sixth consecutive defeat Tuesday night, 7-1.
Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina returned after missing 11 games because of a strained right thumb and went 2 for 5 with a single and double.
Marcell Ozuna punctuated the victory with a ninth-inning homer, his 18th. He has a career average of .452 (14 for 31) against his former team.
Hudson (5-3) gave up four hits, struck out six and retired 10 in a row during one stretch for the Cardinals, who have won his past five starts.
The right-hander has the highest groundball rate in the majors, and 12 of his 21 outs came on grounders. He hasn't given up a homer in 47 innings.
The Marlins totaled five hits, all singles. They rank last in the majors in runs and have been outscored 31-10 in the past six games.
Elieser Hernandez (0-1), recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to make his first start of the year, allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Kolten Wong had two of the Cardinals' 13 hits and reached base four times, and teammate Harrison Bader drove in two runs with a triple and a bases-loaded walk. Dexter Fowler had an RBI single in the seventh and then scored from first on Jose Martinez's pinch-hit two-run single.
St. Louis broke a 1-all tie in the sixth. One run scored on a throwing error by shortstop Miguel Rojas, and three consecutive walks forced in another run.
NEW ADDITION
The Cardinals signed their first-round draft choice, LHP Zack Thompson of Kentucky, and announced they had agreed to terms with seven other picks.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: RHP Riley Ferrell (right biceps tendinitis) joined Class A Jupiter on a rehab assignment.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (4-6, 4.54) is scheduled to start the series finale Wednesday when the Cardinals try for a sweep. He started twice against the Marlins last year and won both games.
Marlins: RHP Jordan Yamamoto, acquired in the Christian Yelich trade in January 2018, is expected to be recalled from Double-A Jacksonville to make his major league debut. He is 3-5 with a 3.58 ERA in 12 starts for Jacksonville.
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